Thread: What can't gastric bypass patients eat?

Didn't they require you to take a class or something before your surgery to discuss your eating restrictions?

Actually since Lap Band and Gastric Bypass are two different surgeries, I'll answer the question.

Gastric Bypass people have very strict eating restrictions in the beginning, and most of them can never eat very sweet things ever again or it will result in gastric "dumping" syndrome which causes terrible cramping in the abdomen.

They usually have to be on a liquid diet for a while, then a soft diet, then move up to solids eventually. It takes a while. They are encouraged to stay away from refined sugars and high fat foods.

You usually cant eat a lot of solid foods before and after a surgery, its just for your body, because liqueds are easier on your body during a tuff time like this. Soups are a good meal replacer, like tomato, or even chicken noodle, but nothing too solid. also, alot of people with put things in the blender and make veggie shakes or fruit shakes, but be sure to mix in protien, it will help your body to recover, especially since you cant eat any meat.

Actually, both of the answers I just read are incorrect. I had gastric bypass as has my brother, plus I am in a group that has both gastric bypass and lapband members called Weight Loss Surgery Friends and Support. It is a good reference place to go for information. But to answer your question concerning food. Initially most people will have to limit the size of their portions but as long as they chew their food well can eat anything, salads, meats, breads, fats. I had my surgery 10 weeks ago. I have eaten everything except for very sugary foods like candy, donuts and such. In the beginning the sugary foods can cause excess fluids to build up in your intestine and that "flushes" out of the body rapidly. Some people have to get used to a food gradually but they digest it well, and can experience some distress when they eat too much. My brother, who is 5 years out has no food or drink restrictions at all. There is nothing he can't eat or drink. He just has to have smaller meals as his stomach is small. I have lost 50 lbs in my 10 weeks and my brother lost 235 lbs in 11 months.

Okay, so no one really covered the ACTUAL answer to this question.

As you already know, these are two very different surgeries. Gastric Banding merely creates a ring around the stomach to limit intake of food, which will eventually flow into the remainder of the stomach very slowly, as the opening has been drastically decreased in size, making you feel full and stopping a large consumption of food- obvious, yes? No diet restrictions are medically necessary.

The specifics of gastric bypass surgery are much different.

A normal stomach would allow food to pass from the esophogus to the stomach, beginning digestion, and then sending it into the beginning of your small intestine (specifically "part 1" or the duodenum). The duodenum is fed enzymes by your pancreas to aid the digestion of any type of food that you have consumed- this is where fat and sugar begin to digest, as they are the two hardest to break down.

When a Gastric Bypass patient has surgery, a small pouch at the top of the stomach is "stapled", and the duodenum is completely bypassed. The Jejunum (part 2 of the small intestine) is then surgically attached to the pouch, changing the way your body digests food..

Since your small intestine is used to breaking down fats and sugars in your duodenum, the jejunum is unprepared for the fat and sugar concentration that it will receive when a post-op GB patient were to eat either. Your body will draw water to the area in attempt to flush away the food, which is the "dumping syndrom" we've all read about..

There's the long answer